I got a cheap student weekend package to Amsterdam when I was an exchange student at the Unversity of York. I spent about all my time in museums, and the one that just floored me was the Van Gogh museum. I haven't been back since, so it was lovely to spend a chunk of the day there yesterday.

I look better in museums when I sketch, even if the finished product isn't that wonderful. I knew I wouldn't do very well sketching from Vincent, but I wanted to try a few to help me remember. I liked the Montmartre view above, since that's where I stay when I go to Paris, and I did a couple of marker sketches of other ones I liked.

This very tall and lovely Odilon Redon painting seemed like it would lend itself to watercolor. I love my tiny Altoid tin watercolor kit and the water brush. I can paint easily standing up in a museum.

I also love that, unlike Memphis (this is one of my biggest complaints about my home city), I can draw in ink, paint, and marker without being hassled. Honestly, people do copies in OIL in major museums. I hate that both museums in Memphis limit you to pencil. I loved being able to work more richly from the paintings.

I finished up copying a Bonnard. I loved the evening light that just glowed.